Food, family and memories are as intertwined in the South as if woven on the same thread. At any function we attend, from a party to a wedding to a funeral, we are as likely to talk as much about the food that was there, as we are about why we are gathered. ~Mary Foreman

I'm your cook, not your doctor. ~PAULA DEEN

I found out what the secret to life is: friends. Best friends. ~Ninny Threadgoode

Monday, July 18, 2011

Most of you know that I do my share of cooking around here, and that while I do occasionally use some convenience products, my primary focus is on scratch cooking with fresh ingredients. Just like the rest of you though, I have days where I am too hot, too busy or just plain too tired to want to spend any time in the kitchen. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens.

Lots of folks are cutting way back on eating out in this economy and are often so busy that frozen dinners can help to fill in occasionally. They are handy for busy workdays when you can't break away from the office, weeknights when life is a rush to begin with, and especially right now when the thought of cooking in this heat make you want to just skip eating altogether. I also know that many of you are already familiar with, love and use Zatarain's products – from boxed mixes, to pouches, to seasonings. I only recently learned, however, that they were carrying a new line of frozen dinner entrées so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to give them a taste test. There are currently eleven meals to choose from.

The first time I went to the store, I picked out Sausage and Chicken Gumbo and Jambalaya Pasta with Chicken and Sausage. I tried the gumbo first.

My husband had gone shrimping, I had literally been putting away shrimp for the freezer all weekend, and was on my own for supper one night, when I remembered this was waiting in my freezer for me to try. Perfect - because I was tired!

First bite I was a bit skeptical. The roux was thinner and less rich than I usually like for a gumbo and the smoked sausage was softer than the kind that I use, but honestly, every bite grew on me and I finished it before I knew it. Rotisserie seasoned chicken and sausage, with rice, okra, red and green bell peppers, onion, garlic and spicy seasonings is the flavor profile for this one.

The next time we went shopping, I asked my husband to pick out two that he thought he might like - and I actually remembered to use the coupons this time, unlike the first time. Thanks Zatarain's! He picked out the Red Beans & Rice with Sausage and the Blackened Chicken with Yellow Rice.

This past Thursday, it was so hot and I was tired, so I was more than happy to let Zatarain's do the cooking for me. I tried the Jambalaya Pasta with Chicken and Sausage I still had in the freezer from the first trip.

This one was made with a penne rigate pasta featuring both rotisserie seasoned chicken and smoked sausage, in a tomato sauce base with onion, green peppers and seasonings. I'm iffy with frozen pastas sometimes, but the pasta was still firm and not mushy. Again, the dish had a healthy spicy bite to it, but not overpowering. I thought it was delicious.

My husband had the Red Beans & Rice with Sausage.

Now, I'll be the first to tell you that he absolutely loves my red beans and rice, so I told him not to rate the flavor against my homemade beans. The Cajun said "tastes like New Orleans!" so I'm guessing that he approved. Truthfully I stole a little bite out of it to try before I gave it to him, ssshh don't tell! I thought that there was a nice ratio of beans to sauce to rice, the rice was firm and not mushy, you could both see and taste the veggies, and the beans were nice and tender. The smoked sausage was the same as that in the gumbo and pasta jambalaya, and I thought the dish overall had a nice flavor and a spicy kick, but not so much to burn your mouth. Yes, it's different from my homemade red beans, but I thought it was quite good!

Now, of course, these are frozen dinners, so you can’t really compare them against a home cooked meal, but I do have to say, for a meal that was ready in about 5 to 6 minutes or so, we enjoyed all of the entrees we've tried. They each had the expected Zatarain's flavor spicy kick to them, but none of them were overpowering. Add some kind of bread from your pantry and a vegetable or side salad from your fridge and you’ve got a nice, quick meal, faster than you can change into your pjs.

As with any packaged product, be mindful of the nutritional information if you are having to regulate your sodium intake. Suggested retail price is around $3.50 per entrée but appear to run anywhere from around $2.50 and up, depending on where you live. I think most of us can manage that in our budgets for a good lunch or speedy supper on those busy nights. Be sure to like Zatarain’s Facebook page and sign up for their email newsletter to get in on coupons when they are available too!

All in all, I'd rate Zatarain's new frozen dinner entrees a winner. Zatarain's - a New Orleans tradition since 1889!

➮Giveaway closes on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 12:00 noon CST. ➮Open to residents of the United States, ages 18 and over only please➮Anonymous entries are okay, however, please leave your name or a way to contact you so that I can identify you should you win!➮Winners will be announced at the site and will be responsible for checking back and responding with mailing information within 48 hours of the announcement, or an alternate winner will be selected.

Good luck!

Disclosure: Zatarain's provided me with coupons for the products described, both for me to try and to giveaway to readers. I was not required to write a positive review, and I received no compensation for posting this. All opinions stated are my own honest review of the product.
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55 comments:

Okay, I guess I am the FIRST...which should carry some heavy weight in this thing... LOL! Anyway, I love Zatarain's products and look forward to trying their new frozen entrees...would LOVE a coupon...who wouldn't... and I mean, me being FIRST and all... :)Jonni Webbadexec1@aol.com

I LOVE Zatarain's products. I have always used the boxed Zatarain's but have recently bought the frozen entree's. My favorite's are the Chicken & Sausage gumbo and the Red Beans and Rice. Soooo easy to pull out of the freezer and nuke for a fast delicious meal!

Mary,I love your cooking site, always great recipes and tips! I have tried the boxed shelf brands of Zatarain's. I usually am getting the red beans & rice, which are really good as a side dish, and I'll either add some smoked sausage, black beans, and peppers to the pan. Another dish I make alot is the dirty rice, or spanish rice, and put my own spin on it. I would absolutely luv, luv, luv to try the frozen packages, didn't know they had them until now! Thanks so much for treating us to your southern hospitality every day!! SheilaLynn

I think Zatarrans noddles and sausage are Fantabulous! Just the right blend of seasonings to add to it. We absolutely love the Zatarain's Jambalaya. That is our ultimate favorite. Add a batch of hot, buttery cornbread and green beans sauteen in garlic and onion and you have the ultimate meal! The Gumbo is pretty good so any Frozen Product from Zatarains is Yummy. I am a huge fan... My name is Becky Springfield

I would love to win some coupons for zatarain"s frozen entrees,I miss living by in good ole New Orleans and I cook with zatarain's products any chance I get, so I can have a little bit of cajun cusine here in tx.

I love Zatarain's products. I have a couple of boxes in my pantry at the moment. I also like their seasoning packages. Would love to win the coupon but in any case am going to buy the Zatarain's frozen entries. Thanks Mary for bringing this give away to us.

I would Love to win one of the Zatarain's coupons - since I am now on disability I don't get to cook as much as I once did so I am always on the lookout for something to help make a great meal for myself and my husband.....P.S. I LOVE Deep South Dish - always some great, easy to make, ideas for meals. Wonderful help for folks like me.

In the South, the breeze blows softer... neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. (By contrast with the Yankee, the Southerner never uses one word when ten or twenty will do.)...This is a different place. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting, and parting. Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names. Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different too, and that may explain everything else. –Charles Kuralt in "Southerners: Portrait of a People"

I looooovvvee Zatarain's. I buy them every 2 weeks and keep them on hand for the munchies or to take to work for lunch when I don't have leftovers. [And I usually end up taking one at least twice a week, since my family is hogs and we rarely have leftovers:)] A coupon would be greatly appreciated!Thanks,Perriperri.childree@gmail.com

I would love to win it because my Zatarains supply is getting low. I moved from South Louisiana to South Colorado a few years ago and I have to spend a ton of money getting Zatarains up here to feed these poor folks who have never tasted "real food."

Okay,Here's a good reason for me to win. I live in Midland,Tx. (west Texas) and it's hotter and dryer than Haties around here this year. It's been at least 100 or better for over 120 days and hasn't rained since last September , yep I'm talking 2010 September. Lord help us. Now I have a spoiled husband who thinks that if I didn't cook it "It ain't no good" and with 100 and above temps every dang day that sort of takes the joy out of cooking somdays, if ya know what I mean.I'll try them on him if I have a coupon and let you know the reaction.Thank, Sindy Magee

I just recently noticed Zatarain's in the freezer section and wondered how they tasted. You do a great job giving descriptions of all of them...making me hungry to try them. Was fortunate to go to New Orleans a few years back and really am craving that food! Would love to win!Bonnie from Iowa.....bjo2298@yahoo.com

I am a busy Mom. I have two boys in school, guitar lessons, drum lessons, & dance. I am always running. When it is over I have homework to supervise. I would love to try these, would be easy to grab a quick bite on a hectic night. Thanks for the chance! deanawood@centurytel.net

I would love to try Zatarains product frozen, I love their boxes items, it is not hot where I live and if I would win one I would dress it up with some creole spices and feel like summer had finally arrived, the weather people say it won't happen this summer, love your blog and recipes they look and I have tried them and they are might tasty, thanks for the blog and contest..yummy from mjs at momanddad00@clear.net !!!!!!!!!!!!!Keep cool...

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Oftentimes what makes a recipe southern, is as much a state of mind as it is a matter of geography - Southerners simply decide a particular food is southern, and that's that." ~Rick McDaniel, Food Historian

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